She's kind'a busy right now.
Posted on 11/08/2010 6:22:58 PM PST by jobkiller
Republican Co-Author of Incandescent-Bulb Ban Seeks Chair of House Energy Committee Monday, November 08, 2010 By Matt Cover
Rep. Fred Upton (R-Mich.) seeks the chairmanship of the powerful House Energy and Commerce Committee
(CNSNews.com) – Rep. Fred Upton (R-Mich.) may have some explaining to do to fellow GOP colleagues as he seeks the chairmanship of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, given the incoming wave of new conservatives who may not appreciate some aspects of Upton's voting record.
Upton joined with Rep. Jane Harman (D.-Calif.) in 2007 to co-author the legislation that effectively banned indoor incandescent light bulbs in the United States. In the last Congress, he an Harman teamed up again to offer new legislation that would extend the ban on incandescent bulbs to outdoor lighting also.
"In 2007, Harman and Upton introduced bipartisan, bicameral legislation--which became law as part of the Energy Independence and Security Act--that bans the famously inefficient 100-watt incandescent light bulb by 2012, phases out remaining inefficient light bulbs by 2014, and requires that light bulbs be at least three times as efficient as today's 100-watt incandescent bulb by 2020," explained a 2009 press release put out by the two House members.
Last year, after George Will wrote a column criticizing Upton's and Harman's proposal to extend the incandescent-bulb ban to outdoor lighting, the two House members sent a letter to the Washington Post complaining about the column and defending their legislative campaign against the incandescent bulb.
"Current incandescent bulbs on store shelves are obsolete and highly inefficient--only 10 percent of the energy consumed by each bulb is for light, and 90 percent is wasted on heat," Upton and Harman told the Post. "Today's incandescents employ the same technology as the bulbs Thomas Edison created more than 120 years ago. By upgrading to 21st-century technology, we will help preserve energy resources and reduce emissions, all the while saving American families billions of dollars in their electric bills."
"Naysayers aside," wrote Upton and Harman, "in a few short years, every home will be on the front lines of reducing pollution and saving energy--one light bulb at a time."
Upton is the second most senior Republican on the Energy and Commerce panel, behind current ranking member Rep. Joe Barton (R-Texas), who is term-limited, according to House GOP conference rules. Barton, who also is seeking the chairmanship, can apply for a waiver from the GOP conference that would allow him to become chairman.
Upton, due to his seniority, is the frontrunner for the post and has recently sought to bolster his conservative credentials by vowing to investigate President Obama's energy czar Carol Browner, EPA chief Lisa Jackson, and Health and Human Service Secretary Kathleen Sebelius.
“We’ll paint the curb yellow for them,” Upton told Politico on Oct. 29.
However, in addition to sponsoring the bill to phase out incandescent light bulbs, Upton’s past votes may also pose an obstacle for him as he tries to secure one of the most powerful chairmanships in the House. The most notable of these is his vote against extending the Bush tax cuts in 2005.
That bill, which ultimately passed, extended the cuts enacted in 2001 but contained reductions in programs that Upton had favored in the past, such as agriculture subsidies and conservation spending.
Upton originally made a name for himself as a freshman congressman in the 1990s for offering measures that would have enacted broad-based spending cuts. Upton also led the fight this year against the Obama administration’s efforts to impose Net Neutrality regulations on the Internet, and he opposed House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s (D-Calif.) efforts to pass cap and trade legislation in 2009.
Upton does have more than a few votes that might please incoming conservatives. In 2006, he voted to grant then-President George W. Bush a line-item veto on spending increases, if those vetoes were exercised to reduce the budget deficit.
Upton also voted for the original Bush tax cuts in 2001--before the massive Medicare entitlement was added--as well as the elimination of the marriage-tax penalty and the death tax.
Upton also voted for a 1999 bill that would have made it harder for Congress to raid the Social Security trust fund.
Other parts of Upton’s record may give him trouble. He voted for the Troubled Asset Relief Program in 2008 twice: when it failed the first time and again, along with a bipartisan majority, when it came up again following the stock market collapse in October 2008.
Upton’s record on stimulus spending is also mixed. He voted for both of President George W. Bush’s stimulus packages in 2008 and against the Republican alternative to President Obama’s plan in 2009. However, Upton also voted against Obama’s stimulus package twice: once when it passed the House and then again when it was reconciled with the Senate version.
Other parts of Upton’s record are relatively uncontroversial. His record indicates that he is solidly pro-life and is generally opposed to financial regulation, opposing the Democrats’ 2010 effort to increase financial regulation.
Upton has also been a consistent supporter of the war on terrorism, voting against recent Democratic efforts to restrict both Presidents Bush and Obama in the conduct of that war.
Upton has consistently supported campaign finance regulations, a thorn in the side of many conservative activists.
Upton also has consistently opposed the controversial ObamaCare legislation, vowing in a Politico interview in October to use the Energy and Commerce Committee to attack the bill piece-by-piece.
“I know there’s going to be a vote to repeal the whole thing if we take over, but in all likelihood we’re not going to have the votes to override” a presidential veto, Upton told Politico. “I look at this a little bit like a Jenga game. It’s a good game with my kids. We’re going to look at the pieces
They should follow Japanese corporate tradition and give him a seat in the Capitol overlooking the street—a “window man.” They can’t be fired, but they are given no work. If they stay in their jobs, they must sit at the window all day. In this way, everyone can see that they are considered useless where they work.
Maybe.
I really wish they would rescind this ridiculous ban on incandescent bulbs. The American people should be able to choose to use the new bulbs - not be forced to do so.
Down with Upton.
I can’t wait for the first lawsuit by some parent for Mercury poisoning from one of the curlie bulbs.
If you Googled “rich elitest snobs”, I would be shocked to not see an Upton family photo in the top 10 searches.
They were always in the “Herald Paladium”(or whatever they call it now) St.Joe-Benton Harbor newspaper (it covered at least 4 counties) “donating” at some charitable event or attending some “high society” function.
There is even an “Upton Drive” in St.Joe!!
For DECADES Lil’ Freddie’s realitives’ factories have put enough garbage in the ground (everything you can imagine just short of actual nuclear waste) and in the St.Joe River and Lake Michigan that will be there long after we are gone, and yet Lil’ Freddie thinks my light bulbs are killing the planet and takes them away.
I’ll tell ya what, the day when they pass the law that ANY Whirlpool stove, microwave, dishwasher, refrigerator and freezer is required by law to use no more energy that my incandesant light bulbs do, then I might listen to Lil’ Freddie.
Until then he really needs to STFU.
He looks like a product of inbreeding. This is the first I’ve heard about him. Wow, he needs to be primaried, but I suppose the area suits him and that he has the name and money to stay in office for as long as he desires. The House Republicans shouldn’t give him a leadership position.
They were likely pressured by their largest buyer to do so. I'll not mention the company by name but one company pretty well dictates these days where things are made and even the quality to a great extent.
This company I'm talking about {not GE but it's largest retailer buyer} after it's founder died was basically taken over and ran by liberals. A company that for many years built it's name on selling products MADE IN THE USA actually. First to go was made in USA policy to a make it in China or Mexico for us cheaper policy.
The company I'm talking about was known for demanding lower quality products with well known brand names be made outside the USA to drive down cost. That same company also went on a GREEN ENERGY kick and these bulbs were basically the beginning of it. The bulbs fit right in with their new reduced on hand inventory to an on time delivery inventory system which often leaves it's shelves bare. Can anyone guess what corporation I'm talking about? One clue. Snapper Mowers said no to them.
Many rich persons especially the ones who inherit their mega fortunes seem to forget where their money initially came from and the principles that earned it.
If you would like to be added or dropped from the Michigan ping list, please freepmail me.
She's kind'a busy right now.
How soon and who are the folks involved in picking and choosing?
Tea Party needs to VET every appointment ... WE WON and elections have consequences
Just have to figure out how to twist arms now
TT
Some of these things seem to flicker even when they’re off....anyone else observed that?
Anyone who makes a law banning an item that has been legal for a century should be drummed out of his job.
That is so anti-free market that it he might as well be a liberal socialist.
I was hoping that maybe we could our lightbulbs back. With the Republicans winning the House, I thought there might be a move to get rid of this silly legislation. It would appear that the answer is no.
You can get incandescent light bulbs rated for 25,000 hours that are used by the hospitality industry. If you use them for an average of 7 hours a day they’ll burn out in just a little under 10 years and cost about a buck or less per bulb depending on how many you buy.
https://www.nathosp.com/product/25k19_c/standard_incandescent_light_bulbs
Once you stock up all you’ll have to do is watch out for the light bulb police who’ll be monitoring everyone who might be using those unauthorized, evil incandescents!
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